The Baby is a British horror comedy television limited series created by Lucy Gaymer and Siân Robins-Grace, which premiered on HBO on 24 April 2022 and Sky Atlantic on 7 July 2022. The series consists of eight episodes.
| The Baby | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Genre | Horror comedy |
| Created by |
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| Starring |
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| Composer | Lucrecia Dalt |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producer | Lucy Gaymer |
| Production location | United Kingdom |
| Cinematography |
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| Editors |
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| Running time | 23–34 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | |
| Release | 24 April – 12 June 2022 |
Premise
editWhen 38-year-old Natasha is unexpectedly landed with a baby, her life of doing what she wants, when she wants, dramatically implodes. Stinky, controlling, manipulative and with violent powers, the baby twists Natasha's life into a horror show. Where does it come from? What does it want? And to what lengths will Natasha have to go in order to get her life back? She doesn't want a baby. The baby wants her.[1]
Cast and characters
editMain
edit- Michelle de Swarte as Natasha Willams: A 38-year-old who has never made long-term plans and is unexpectedly landed with a baby.
- Amira Ghazalla as Mrs. Eaves/Nour: The 73-year-old "Enigma" who has spent 50 years living in her car.
- Amber Grappy as Bobbi Willams: Natasha's younger sister, who wants nothing more than to be a parent.
- Albie Hills and Arthur Hills as ‘The Baby’ that turns Natasha's world upside down.
Recurring
edit- Patrice Naiambana as Natasha's father, Lyle
- Sinéad Cusack as Natasha's mother, Barbara
- Shvorne Marks as Mags
- Isy Suttie as Rita
- Tanya Reynolds as Helen
- Seyan Sarvan as Nour
- Karl Davies as Jack
- Divian Ladwa as Fooze
- Angela Yeoh as Yolanda
Episodes
edit| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Arrival" | Nicole Kassell | Siân Robins-Grace | 24 April 2022 | 0.116[2] |
| 2 | "The Seduction" | Stacey Gregg | Siân Robins-Grace | 1 May 2022 | 0.130[3] |
| 3 | "The Bulldozer" | Stacey Gregg | Sophie Goodhart | 8 May 2022 | 0.170[4] |
| 4 | "The Mother" | Faraz Shariat | Susan Soon He Stanton | 15 May 2022 | 0.132[5] |
| 5 | "The Baby" | Faraz Shariat | Kara Smith | 22 May 2022 | 0.115[6] |
| 6 | "The Rage" | Faraz Shariat | Anchuli Felicia King | 29 May 2022 | 0.091[7] |
| 7 | "The Curse" | Ella Jones | Siân Robins-Grace and Sophie Goodhart | 5 June 2022 | 0.087[8] |
| 8 | "The Possession" | Ella Jones | Siân Robins-Grace and Anchuli Felicia King | 12 June 2022 | 0.093[9] |
Production
editDevelopment
editIn August 2020, it was announced HBO had given a series order to The Baby.[10] Robins-Grace, Jane Featherstone, Carolyn Strauss, and Naomi de Pear were confirmed as executive producers with Lucy Gaymer producing.[1][10] The Baby is produced by HBO, Sky Atlantic, Sister Pictures, and Gaymer's Proverbial Pictures. Nicole Kassell joined in December 2020 as a lead director and executive producer.[11] Stacey Gregg, Faraz Shariat and Elle Jones also serve as directors.[12]
Writing
editSophie Goodhart, Kara Smith, Anchuli Felicia King and Susan Stanton serve as writers on the series.[1][11] Bisha K. Ali serves as a consulting producer.[11][12]
Casting
editIn June 2021, Michelle de Swarte was cast as Natasha, while Amira Ghazalla was cast as Mrs. Eaves and Amber Grappy as Bobbi.[12] In February 2022, Patrice Naiambana, Sinéad Cusack, Shvorne Marks, Isy Suttie, Tanya Reynolds, Seyan Sarvan, Karl Davies, and Divian Ladwa joined the series.[13]
Filming
editFilming began on 31 May 2021 in the United Kingdom.[14] The series wrapped in November 2021.[15]
Music
editLucrecia Dalt serves as the series' composer. Pete Saville and Zoe Bryant are the music supervisors, and Ed Hamilton is the music editor.[16]
Release
editThe Baby premiered on HBO on 24 April 2022 and consist of eight episodes.[10][12][13]
Reception
editCritical response
editThe review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an 72% approval rating with an average rating of 7/10, based on 22 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "The Baby's tone can be as wobbly as a rocking crib, but its audacious nature of comedy and horror deserves to be nurtured."[17] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 71 out of 100 based on 9 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[18]
Ratings
edit| No. | Title | Air date | Rating (18–49) |
Viewers (millions) |
DVR (18–49) |
DVR viewers (millions) |
Total (18–49) |
Total viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Arrival" | 24 April 2022 | 0.02 | 0.116[2] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2 | "The Seduction" | 1 May 2022 | 0.02 | 0.130[3] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 3 | "The Bulldozer" | 8 May 2022 | 0.04 | 0.170[4] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 4 | "The Mother" | 15 May 2022 | 0.02 | 0.132[5] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 5 | "The Baby" | 22 May 2022 | 0.01 | 0.115[6] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 6 | "The Rage" | 29 May 2022 | 0.01 | 0.091[7] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 7 | "The Curse" | 5 June 2022 | 0.01 | 0.087[8] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 8 | "The Possession" | 12 June 2022 | 0.01 | 0.093[9] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c White, Peter (12 August 2020). "HBO & Sky Give Birth To Dark Horror Comedy 'The Baby' From Sister & Debut Screenwriter Siân Robins-Grace". Deadline. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (26 April 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 4.24.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on 26 April 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (3 May 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 5.1.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on 18 July 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (10 May 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 5.8.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ a b Salem, Mitch (17 May 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 5.15.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on 20 July 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (24 May 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 5.22.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on 18 July 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
- ^ a b Salem, Mitch (1 June 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 5.29.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on 18 July 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
- ^ a b Salem, Mitch (7 June 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 6.5.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (14 June 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 6.12.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ a b c Otterson, Joe (12 August 2020). "HBO, Sky Order Horror Comedy Series 'The Baby'". Variety. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
- ^ a b c Kanter, Jake (9 December 2020). "Emmy-Winning 'Watchmen' Director Nicole Kassell To Helm HBO/Sky/Sister's Horror Comedy 'The Baby'; All-Female Writers Room Assembled". Deadline. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
- ^ a b c d Petski, Denise (7 June 2021). "'The Baby': Michelle De Swarte To Star, Two More Cast In HBO/Sky Horror Comedy Series". Deadline. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
- ^ a b Petski, Denise (28 February 2022). "'The Baby': HBO/Sky Horror Comedy Gets Premiere Date, Teaser Trailer, First-Look Photos". Deadline. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
- ^ "The Baby - Production List". Production List. 29 March 2021. Archived from the original on 18 December 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
- ^ Jackson, Leigh-Ann (10 June 2022). "In 'The Baby,' Killing With Cuteness". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ Uitti, Jacob (18 April 2022). "HBO Composer, Music Editor, and Music Supervisors on How to Create Music for New Show 'The Baby'". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on 24 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ "The Baby: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
- ^ "The Baby: Season 1". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
